According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck, the Twins have signed reliever Joel Zumaya to a one-year contract that could be worth anywhere between $800,000 and $1.7 million, depending on the right-hander’s ability to hit certain performance incentives.

Zumaya missed all of the 2011 season due to elbow surgery and has topped the 40-inning plateau just once in his career, but he’s also been highly effective when healthy and touched the mid-90s with his fastball during a showcase workout last month for 20 MLB teams. If he can manage to avoid the disabled list, the deal could easily pay off for the Twins.

Zumaya, 27, had a 3.05 ERA in 209 2/3 innings with the Tigers before hitting the open market this winter.

I think this is a great deal. Seems very low risk high reward with the incentive based contract. It’s not like he was given an outrageous amount of guaranteed money here. Look forward to seeing him in a Twins uniform and I hope he bounces back very well.

Agreed. I’m not expecting much from the Twins this season, nor is it a guarantee that Zumaya will be all that effective. But he’s worth taking a chance on, and the price is right. This is certainly a better deal than the millions they’re throwing at their “proven closer” Capps.